Living In the Singularity (Part 2)
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At the close of the “first” industrial revolution, the world was changing faster than ever before, but especially so in Britain, the birthplace of industry. However, the pace of progress was poised to accelerate further, and the plight of the common person was about to improve in unprecedented and unimaginable ways. The “Second” Industrial Revolution brought progress and prosperity to more parts of the world and showed that other nations could share in its fruits as well.
Before the Second Industrial Revolution
It’s difficult for us today to imagine what life was like before 1870 at the dawn of the Second Industrial Revolution. Electricity had not yet been harnessed. People spent much of their time in the dark or with dimly lit candles or oil lamps. Bedrooms were unheated and many brought hot bricks to bed with them to keep warm. There was no running water, therefore, someone (usually a housewife), was forced to carry water to the home to be used for cleaning and…
